yA 
SAND, OR HAIRY VETCH 97 
manure was used; the commercial fertilizer with little 
or no success. 
Had it not been for twenty acres of late peas sown 
on the bottom lands that brought a money value of $75 
per acre, the farm the first year would not have paid ex- 
penses. 
But the author was not discouraged. He was con- 
stantly studying conditions and looking about for some- 
thing and some method by which the soil of his farm 
could be rebuilt. 
One day during the first summer he received through 
the mail a catalogue of a seed house, and in turning its 
pages his eyes caught the words “Sandy Vetch.” The 
fact that he owned some sand that was then the upper- 
most subject in his mind no doubt had something to do 
with arresting his eyes upon the words. 
Reading the description in the catalogue of this plant, 
which said that “ Sand Vetch was becoming more popu- 
lar with the farmers of the country as they learned more 
of its value; that it was noted for its extreme hardi- 
ness, its value as a cover crop and for forage and fer- 
tilizing purposes; that it was especially recommended 
for poor soils where it thrives wonderfully and improves 
the soil, being rich in nitrogen,” the author began to 
“ sit up and take notice.” 
It did not take him long to learn that he was inter- 
ested and intensely interested. But when he read fur- 
ther that “the Washington Department of Agriculture 
estimated the value of an acre of yvetch plowed under 
as equivalent to putting into the ground twenty or forty 
dollars’ worth of commercial fertilizer,”’ he became en- 
